Funday Times

This article is part of a continuing series on the 'Mahavamsa', the recorded chronicle of Sri Lankan history

The battle of the brothers
1. The paintings at Sigiriya are among the best of paintings of ancient Asia. There is mention of a wall right round the rock. The king had erected a town in the vicinity of the wall. Although the king kept himself busy with these erections, the sin of killing his father haunted him, day and night. He did a lot of meritorious deeds to atone for this sin. He got the temple at Isurumuniya extended and repaired it too. He bought off a lot of villages and donated the income of these villages for the maintenance of this Isurumuniya Temple.

2. The King got parks done up, at the entrances to the city. Fruit trees, mainly mangoes, were grown all over the country. This king had two very pretty daughters, named Bodhi and Upalavanna. The king made an attempt to build a temple, name it by combining the daughters' names and his own, and offering it to the Mahavihara. But the monks of Mahavihara refused to accept it. They said it would be a great disgrace to accept a temple from a person who had killed his own father.

3. King Kashyapa did not give up his idea. After building the temple and naming it 'Bo-Upulvan-Kasubgiri', he offered it to the Buddha statue at Mahavihara. The monks had to tolerate it, as it was an offering made to the Buddha. Furthermore, King Kashyapa built a vihara and a park, near the rock. They were also named by the names of his daughters. These were offered to the monks of the Dhammaruchi sect.

4. Commander Migara too got a Buddhist statue sculptured out of stone. He built a 'pirivena', in his name. All these were offered to the Buddha statue. As things offered to the Buddha, belong to the Sangha, the priests had to tolerate in silence and accept them. King Kashyapa was very worried about the discontent of his subjects, mainly the Buddhist clergy. He knew they hated him for the grave sin he had committed by killing his father. He could never live in peace.

5. He began to observe 'Ata-Sil' (eight precepts) on all four poya days of the month. He did a lot of meritorious deeds with the idea of gaining redemption. One day, a woman prepared a special meal, mixing ghee with king-coconut oil and offered it to the king. After enjoying that meal, the king ordered that such type of delicious food should be offered to the monks. He offered robes to all the priests of the island. The king encouraged the writing of books on the Dhamma and erected a number of image houses. However much he did for the Sasana, he lived in eternal fear.

6. Though amidst fear and unhappiness, King Kashyapa ruled the country for 18 years. In the meantime, Prince Mugalan who went to South India, returned to Sri Lanka, having collected 12 giants and an army. He entered the country through Jaffna and set up camp near a temple there, named 'Kuthara'. He gathered some more soldiers from here. Those who were disgusted with King Kashyapa joined him.

7. In the 'Mahavamsa', this Kuthara temple is referred to as 'Poro Vehera'. King Kashyapa consulted his soothsayers regarding when he should march to the battle field. According to their predictions, victory was difficult. King Kashyapa did not have much faith in this forecast. He thought, "Why should I be afraid of him?' So he collected his army and set forth for battle.

8. This news reached Prince Mugalan. He advanced along with his forces. It is after a long lapse, that the two brothers met, but they met as erstwhile enemies, fully armed. The battle that day was a fierce one. Both armies lost a lot of their men. King Kashyapa was on elephant back. While the fighting was going on, he came to a muddy puddle and the elephant turned to evade it.

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